# Bob Books Reading Magic #1 vs READING MAGIC 2

The clearest difference is price: READING MAGIC 2 at Free against Bob Books Reading Magic #1's $2.99. READING MAGIC 2 also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 66%). Bob Books Reading Magic #1's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 19 months). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

READING MAGIC 2 is free to download; Bob Books Reading Magic #1 costs $2.99 up front. READING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bob Books Reading Magic #1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bob Books Reading Magic #1 has 602 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Bob Books Reading Magic #1's written reviews are positive against 81% of READING MAGIC 2's.

Bob Books Reading Magic #1 ships an update every 4 months, READING MAGIC 2 every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bob Books Reading Magic #1 | READING MAGIC 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (602 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bob-books-reading-magic-1/id405995002/reviews) | **[4.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-2/id432526055/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **602** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 19 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 175 MB | 258 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.7 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bob Books Publications LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/706044387) | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) |

## What reviewers say

### Bob Books Reading Magic #1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bob-books-reading-magic-1/id405995002)

This interactive phonics game helps young children learn to read by connecting letters to sounds and sounding out simple words. With a drag-and-drop interface and engaging animations, it provides a fun and successful first reading experience.

**Highlights:** Phonics-based interactive game, Letter-sound connection, Sounding out simple words, Spelling practice, Drag-and-drop interface, Full-color animations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and interactive learning
- 💡 Great for special needs children
- 🚀 Keeps kids engaged
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Excellent teaching tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound issues
- 💰 Expensive for limited content
- 🤔 Repetitive scenes and activities
- 🤔 Not enough progression in difficulty

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not working
- Inability to progress to higher levels
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- More books and content
- Ability to vocalize letter sounds
- Varied word choices and sentence structures
- British English voice option


### READING MAGIC 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-2/id432526055)

This app helps children master consonant blends, a key skill for reading success. It offers interactive modes for blending sounds, segmenting words, and independent reading practice with over 300 words and engaging themes.

**Highlights:** Blending Mode for sound practice, Segmenting Mode for word breakdown, Reading Mode for independent word reading, Focus on CCVC and CVCC words, Advanced consonant blend practice, Over 300 words with male/female voices, Themed lessons for engagement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bob Books Reading Magic #1 free?

Bob Books Reading Magic #1 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is READING MAGIC 2 free?

READING MAGIC 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bob Books Reading Magic #1 or READING MAGIC 2?

READING MAGIC 2 is rated higher. Bob Books Reading Magic #1 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 602 ratings, while READING MAGIC 2 averages 4.8 from 21 ratings.

### Do Bob Books Reading Magic #1 or READING MAGIC 2 have ads?

Neither Bob Books Reading Magic #1 nor READING MAGIC 2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bob Books Reading Magic #1 or READING MAGIC 2?

Bob Books Reading Magic #1 ships an update every 4 months, and READING MAGIC 2 every 19 months. Most recently, Bob Books Reading Magic #1 was updated on October 24, 2026 and READING MAGIC 2 on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*